Hi everyone. I am new here and I tried searching for this but couldn't really find what I wanted. I have a Toshiba Satellite 5105-S501 and it was working fine then all of a sudden it would freeze up/really bog down while just surfing the internet.

So I decided I would try and do a Fresh Re-Install with the Toshiba Recovery discs. I did so, and while it was trying to load everything it would stop and freeze. Then I tried to reinstall everything by using my Windows XP Pro disc. I re-formatted everything and created a new partition, and it started to copy the installation files, then got to one that said it could not copy, I press retry, with no luck, then I skipped the file and the next one did the same thing. So I could not get the OS back with the XP disc.

After that I tried to use the Toshiba Recovery disc again, this time it says WRONG MACHINE. And won't let me go any further. So I have a machine with a blank hard drive, that will not let me install an OS anyway I try.

Does anyone know what might be going on? Is the mother board corrupted, is that why I get the WRONG MACHINE error? Is the HArd Drive bad, Is that why I can't install XP Pro from the CD?

Any info would be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

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Nick,
I've run into this, but only when the CD I was using was not the correct recovery disk for the laptop I was trying to recover. I have never had a problem when installing an original WinXP install. This install only requires that the proper code be entered before the 30 days run out. Good luck

I am sure that this is the correct recovery disc. I have no clue why this would happen unless the Main Bios was actually corrupted or something. I don't know. I would really like to get this figured out though.

Also, I just don't understand why the XP PRo disc will try to copy the installation files and then quit. I actually got the XP Pro Disc to get all the way through the copying of installation files then it started to install and then it froze.

Nick,
It would appear that you have more than one problem. The first is that the unit locks up. You'll need to correct this before anything else can be done.
You may need to clean the CPU fan system. NOT just the fan, but the heat exchanger as well. A build up of dust bunnies can cause overheat and lockup. Check the memory. After you cure the lockup problem, repairing the other problems are a snap.

2 years ago one of my RAM Slots went bad. So I am down to one. How can I check to see if this slot went bad? When the one 2 years ago went bad it was easy to check because I could just remove one or the other to see if the problem was fixed.

At this point, you can only check to see if the ram stick is working. If you have another ram stick. Out side of that, you can't really do much.

edited to add info:
If you can get past the lockup, I did find this information on another site:

1. Pop in the CD.
2. Press F12 immediately upon seeing the Toshiba logo.
3. Select the CD to boot to CD.
4. It will prompt you to continue or quit, press F1 to continue.
5. It will give you the "Wrong Machine" error.
6. Type Q: at the DOS prompt to change to the Q: drive (a RAM drive setup by batch file).
7. Type cd\base to change to the base directory.
8. Type os (or os.bat) and press Enter. This will start ghosting the image to the computer.
9. When it is done with disc 1 it will prompt for disc 2 and then disc 3.
10. When it is done, eject the disk and press the key it says to continue.
11. It should reboot into the setup for XP

Of course, I can't take credit for any success, and I won't take credit for any mishaps!

Well, the info for removing the WRONG MACHINE Error code worked perfectly. And the reinstall of everything went smooth. The laptop seems to be working fine now. A little slower than it use to be, but I have a feeling the RAM is going to go out on the one slot that works.

At this point, you can only check to see if the ram stick is working. If you have another ram stick. Out side of that, you can't really do much.

edited to add info:
If you can get past the lockup, I did find this information on another site:

1. Pop in the CD.
2. Press F12 immediately upon seeing the Toshiba logo.
3. Select the CD to boot to CD.
4. It will prompt you to continue or quit, press F1 to continue.
5. It will give you the "Wrong Machine" error.
6. Type Q: at the DOS prompt to change to the Q: drive (a RAM drive setup by batch file).
7. Type cd\base to change to the base directory.
8. Type os (or os.bat) and press Enter. This will start ghosting the image to the computer.
9. When it is done with disc 1 it will prompt for disc 2 and then disc 3.
10. When it is done, eject the disk and press the key it says to continue.
11. It should reboot into the setup for XP

Of course, I can't take credit for any success, and I won't take credit for any mishaps!

Hi there; I have a Toshiba A105-S4074 with the same problem; I am at step 5.

Are you having this problem with the recovery discs? because if so, the WRONG MACHINE message should not be in a window like the picture you uploaded. It should be in a DOS prompt already and the WRONG MACHINE message will be spelled out in block letters made with a lot of *. Make sure you are not trying to run the recovery disc install from Windows.

Well, I am using the disks that came sealed with the computer. On the disks, it says Toshiba A100/A105 recovery disk (1 out of 2 and 2 out of 2). I'm pretty sure they aren't the XP recovery disks.

I was told that with this model there is a corrupted/missing DMI string in the data that recognizes the Recovery Disk, and this problem's not too uncommon. I just don't know how to open the prompt when all I get is the grey window with no option to write anything.

I am experiencing a similar problem. I have a portege M405-S8003. A few months ago I was having some serious problems, and the computer was just shutting down if I moved it around. It took about two months, but Costco's repair center finally fixed that problem. They changed the mother board/logic board/ heat sink/ fan, (basically all sorts of things)

Recently I got a bunch of viruses on my computer trying to download some TV shows. I was told that I should just format and recover my hard drive.

When I put in my recovery discs and restart my computer, a box shows up that says that I need to input my model number. After I put it in a few times, it doesn't recognize it properly, and then It says " WRONG MACHINE". The only option I have after that is to press the exit button and then it shuts down. Turning on the machine just brings up this same procedure in a terrible loop.

Is there anyway to trick my computer into being a M405-S8003 again? Or do I have to get new recovery discs? Any help would be much appreciated.

I'm having the same issue. Toshiba did warranty work on my motherboard and put in a m400 in rather than a M405. Now I'm out of warranty and all they will do is replace the recovery disc with another M405 disc. The same Wrong Machine message comes up. It seems is that the DMI string is different and you need to run a program to change this string. I am searching for instructions now and will post when I find them.

Yeah I'm thinking that's the same thing as mine (putting in a m400 board) and my warranty is out too!!! damn Toshiba. Regardless I haven't had any luck how to figure out how to fix this. I spent half a day and then got too frustrated. If I find anything out i'll let you know for sure, and please do the same for me. I just want my computer to work!

Hello All,
I have the very same problem. My motherboard on my toshiba Satellite P100 died after the warrently was out.... I have friends changed my motherboard. The computer came up fine and nice. The speed was nice. After couple months of using it, I got virus on my computer and I decided to reinstall my windows by using the recovery disc. And the Big Black WRONG MACHINE with little exit on the screen. I tried everything to look for the DMI for the toshiba satellite P100 but still no luck... anyone, may have any info, please??????

At this point, you can only check to see if the ram stick is working. If you have another ram stick. Out side of that, you can't really do much.

edited to add info:
If you can get past the lockup, I did find this information on another site:

1. Pop in the CD.
2. Press F12 immediately upon seeing the Toshiba logo.
3. Select the CD to boot to CD.
4. It will prompt you to continue or quit, press F1 to continue.
5. It will give you the "Wrong Machine" error.
6. Type Q: at the DOS prompt to change to the Q: drive (a RAM drive setup by batch file).
7. Type cd\base to change to the base directory.
8. Type os (or os.bat) and press Enter. This will start ghosting the image to the computer.
9. When it is done with disc 1 it will prompt for disc 2 and then disc 3.
10. When it is done, eject the disk and press the key it says to continue.
11. It should reboot into the setup for XP

Of course, I can't take credit for any success, and I won't take credit for any mishaps!

THANK YOU!!!! I have been trying to restore a laptop for a friend with little success until I found your message. Too bad it was after I had bought a usb floppy drive from newegg.com to try changing the DMI information. The problem I ran into there was that I didn't know what to change it to.

Hello all,my computer is toshiba satellite pro-EZ1004x.
A frend got problem while she was using her laptop,she called me and asked for help,i told her to come with her laptop.
I started it but while starting it stuck and showing wrong machine error message and gives exit as an option,on exiting it repeat the same procedure and show the wrong machine again.I tried to use XPcp3 cd,as the procedure written above,but i dont see the option continuing or quit,butbooting from cd it is showing that no disk in the diskdrive.Any one with idea please cz i dont want to go to techinician he wont show the procedure,i want to know also.

Same problem here with my Toshiba Satellite A105-S4274
Thanks to the virus (check yours cause it was on two of my laptops) with the name of Personal Security but in your program files it will be Personalsec with the address of http://www.ieblacklist.com reaking havoc on my laptop i have had to use my Factory Toshiba Recovery Disk three times and now since i have deleted it tho,but it still left reminices of harm to my new Toshiba,but now` i get the Big Black "Wrong Machine" message with the lil exit sign.After my 3rd time using Toshibas recovery disk one and two it said 3 times of Toshibas Recovery disk use was all i would get of reinstalling my Toshiba back to like factory new.And that it reccomends me to back-up my files ofwhich i have done with my protection service Microsoft Windows Live Onecare.BTW Microsoft Security Essentials protection is free.I'm going to inqurie with Toshiba about getting the proper DMI Utility Reset Tool download and try that because i don't see it any where for my specific Toshiba A105-S4274 brand anywhere??Any suggestions and help would be most appreciated.

I love this old machine and so have tried your multi step instructions. I too, didn't not have a prompt at the bottom of the W-M error screen, but was able to get one by pressing the F2 (cancel) button, on a preceeding screen and followed the steps from there, ending in an "Invalid destintion drive" Usage error 11030.....and pressed the OK button. The process was then aborted.
No prompt, only a cold boot to put her out of her/my misery.